On Friday, April 17, 2015 at the Downtown Public Library 5-7 PM, an estimated 60 people attended the second of three Underline Public Meetings for the James Corner Field Operations master plan design team to gather input from the community.

Focused on the Brickell Avenue area of the future Underline, attendees heard from public officials and the master plan design team and then broke into interactive stations.

Meg Daly, Founder of Friends of The Underline, opened the meeting. She welcomed the residents, and various representatives of Miami Dade County and the team from James Corner Field Operations. She said that 19 firms submitted qualifications to develop the Master Plan for this project and there were many excellent submissions. James Corner Field Operations was selected via a competitive process.

Meg Daly introduced Xavier Suarez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner of District 7. Commissioner Suarez spoke about the need to provide transportation alternatives of a significant scale for Miami Dade County. He said that Miami Dade is behind other large metropolitan areas in the US and other countries in addressing the issues. The Commissioner feels that this project would play an important role in solving those problems and would also serve as an important park for enjoyment. The Commissioner said that he sees The Underline as “phase 1” of implementing a larger network for biking and walking. He supports the concept and is willing to work with politicians at the city and state level to advocate for this park and trail initiative.

Jack Kardys, Miami Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Director talked about the need for greenways and trails throughout Miami-Dade County and that the future Underline is part of PROS  master plan. He also noted the amount of work that Maria Nardi and Meg Daly have committed to The Underline project.

Lisa Switkin, Principal with James Corner Field Operations, introduced the company’s work to the audience with the aid of a Powerpoint slide presentation. Through a competitive process, the team was selected to develop a Master Plan for The Underline and it is projected to be completed within a 6 month period.

James Corner Field Operations is an urban design, landscape architecture and public realm practice based in New York. They are noted for their design work for the High Line in New York. At the time, she said, the 1.5 mile project seemed to be impossible. However, their design converted a blighted, abandoned rail line into a beloved icon in New York. Its original purpose as a park morphed into additional benefits, such as engaging the many neighborhoods through which it passed to becoming a social promenade. She showed and discussed examples other projects they had worked on including The Atlanta Beltline, Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Antwerp Green in Belgium, Central Waterfront in Seattle, an upcoming project for Lincoln Road in Miami Beach and the Knight Plaza which connects the Perez Art Museum Miami and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, which are in Museum Park in Miami.

The design team views The Underline as the “spine” for existing completed and proposed bike trails. The Underline will provide 120 acres of open space, almost 10 miles long, passing through 8 Metrorail stations and 3 municipalities. It should allow for multi-modal transportation, should be an iconic public space, an ecological corridor, take advantage of the ample shade provide by the overhead MetroRail and have transit oriented development. Some of the challenges for the future Underline include safety, lighting, path width, intersections, sharp turns, identity, wayfinding and user visibility.

What would make The Underline a great trail? Some of the components include looking at the project from various angles including:
1) Park and Trail – There should be multimodal corridors for various users. It should embrace bike culture, have excellent lighting, embrace local ecologies and habitats, green initiatives such as solar power and efficient use of water, helpful wayfinding and an identity;
2) Intersections – prioritize pedestrians and cyclists;
3) Transit Oriented Development – Development should be bike and pedestrian friendly. There should be development incentives in sections that are depressed.

The master plan is scheduled to be completed in late September. A second set of public meetings will take place in late June. Included in the plan will be projected funding sources and maintenance costs.

Isabel Castilla, Project Manager with James Corner Field Operations explained to the audience that the design team needed their input. She invited them to visit interactive stations. The stations were Themes, Uses, a 12-foot map of the trail for comment, plus a detailed map of the Brickell area, and a graffiti board for miscellaneous comments. For the Themes and the Uses stations, Isabel asked guests to indicate their top two favorites among those proposed by placing a sticker on each. On the map, they should indicate which areas they use and any suggestions for those or other areas. The graffiti board was for any additional comments.

The Themes Board asked: What would attract you to The Underline? The selections were Ecology & Natural Habitats, Art & Culture, Health & Fitness, Stroll & Picnic, Green Technology & Sustainability, Shops & Restaurants, and Festivals & Events. Residents preferences were:

Ecology & Natural Habitats #1
Art & Culture #2
Green Technology & Sustainability #3
Shops & Restaurants #4
Health & Fitness #5
Stroll & Picnic #5
Festivals & Events #7

The Uses boards asks: How would you use The Underline? Options include Art, Leisurely Walk, Restaurants & Cafes, Dog Walk, Metrorail Access, Enjoy Nature, Stroll & Picnic, Bike Commute, Outdoor Fitness, Attractions & Events, Family Activities, Run, Leisurely Bike Ride.

Enjoy Nature #1
Restaurants & Cafes #1
Art #3
Leisurely Bike Ride #4
Metrorail Access #5
Outdoor Fitness #5
Family Activities #7
Leisurely Walk #7
Stroll & Picnic #9
Bike Commute #9
Run #11
Attractions & Events #12
Dog Walk #13

Click here to access all photos from the Brickell Public Meeting.

Click here to access photos of all meeting boards.